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Auto alternatives for the 21st centuryFri, 31 Jul 2015 13:14:21 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.2Hyundai Tucson To Be First To Mass-Market Fuel Cell Vehicle In Canadahttp://www.hybridcars.com/hyundai-tucson-to-be-first-to-mass-market-fuel-cell-vehicle-in-canada/
http://www.hybridcars.com/hyundai-tucson-to-be-first-to-mass-market-fuel-cell-vehicle-in-canada/#commentsThu, 27 Nov 2014 17:57:13 +0000http://www.hybridcars.com/?p=221266Hyundai Auto Canada Corp. has announced that it will be the first automotive company to make hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles available to the Canadian public. The Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) will be available to Canadians on a 3-year lease beginning in early 2015. The rollout of the Tuscon FCEV in Canada […]

]]>Hyundai Auto Canada Corp. has announced that it will be the first automotive company to make hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles available to the Canadian public. The Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) will be available to Canadians on a 3-year lease beginning in early 2015.

The rollout of the Tuscon FCEV in Canada will be limited geographically to the greater Vancouver area, and Hyundai has set up a dedicated website to find their first customers.

While the rollout is limited in size and scope, Hyundai felt it was important to finally make fuel-cell vehicles available to Canadians.

“The challenge facing this technology has always been characterized by a chicken-and-egg scenario, where car companies won’t bring fuel cell vehicles to market without an infrastructure and there is no need for a refueling industry without customers. It’s time to move beyond simply talking about the opportunity” said Don Romano, president and CEO of Hyundai Auto Canada Corp. “Hyundai was the first to mass-produce fuel cell electric vehicles and will be the first to bring them to Canadian customers. We’re planting the seed for a new segment of the industry.”

Initial customers will be able to lease the vehicle at $599 Canadian dollars per month over a three year term. The lease includes maintenance and unlimited hydrogen refueling. In addition, Tucson FCEV owners will enjoy an “At Your Service” valet program. Based on the company’s full-size Equus premium sedan program launched in 2010, should a Tucson FCEV require any service, a Hyundai dealer will pick up the vehicle and provide a loaner hybrid vehicle, then return it after service is complete to their home or business, at no charge.

Fueling up the Tuscon FCEV will have challenges initially, as there are very few hydrogen stations in place. According to Chad Heard, public relations manager for Hyundai Auto Canada Corp, no public fueling stations exist but they are working to ensure that hydrogen fuel is available to its customers. He said the first facility would likely be located in Surrey, BC which is a suburb of Vancouver.

Surrey, BC has shown itself to be a municipality that is actively working to develop suitable infrastructure to better accommodate alternative fuel sources for automobiles. In 2012 the city passed a by-law which requires all new gas stations to include alternative fuel sources such as a level-three electric vehicle charging station, compressed natural gas, hydrogen or propane.

Proponents of fuel cell vehicle technology are pleased about Hyundai’s decision to launch the Tuscon FCEV in Canada.
“Fuel cell vehicles have the potential to make a huge, positive impact on the environment and climate change,” said Eric Denhoff, president and CEO of the Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association. “Hyundai’s commitment to hydrogen power proves that it is time for us to take the next step and make the fuel cell dream a reality in Canada by expanding hydrogen infrastructure, making fuel cell vehicles the most popular and accessible vehicles for Canadians.”

For Vancouver area residents interested in learning more about the Tuscon FCEV program, they are asked to visit www.hyundaihydrogren.ca.

With the launch in Canada, Hyundai has now made its Tuscon FCEV available in 14 countries. Other countries include the U.S., the U.K., Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, Austria, Netherland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and South Korea.

]]>http://www.hybridcars.com/hyundai-tucson-to-be-first-to-mass-market-fuel-cell-vehicle-in-canada/feed/0Hyundai Charging Full-Steam-Ahead With Fuel Cell Vehicleshttp://www.hybridcars.com/hyundai-charging-full-steam-ahead-with-fuel-cell-vehicles/
http://www.hybridcars.com/hyundai-charging-full-steam-ahead-with-fuel-cell-vehicles/#commentsMon, 03 Jun 2013 15:41:56 +0000http://www.hybridcars.com/?p=59547Yes, the headline is an intentionally mixed metaphor between technology that rose to prominence in the 19th century and the yet-debated 21st century propulsion technology afforded by fuel cells. Indicators that it is accurate include that today Hyundai made its first ceremonial European deliveries of many more planned hydrogen-powered Tucsons, and two weeks ago it […]

]]>Yes, the headline is an intentionally mixed metaphor between technology that rose to prominence in the 19th century and the yet-debated 21st century propulsion technology afforded by fuel cells.

Indicators that it is accurate include that today Hyundai made its first ceremonial European deliveries of many more planned hydrogen-powered Tucsons, and two weeks ago it signed on with other automakers to H2USA, an initiative to advance fuel cell vehicles toward viability.

The Tucson-based SUV is actually known as the iX35, and in March Hyundai’s John Krafcik, CEO of Hyundai Motor America went on record touting the benefits of fuel cell vehicles over battery electric cars, predicting nationwide U.S. distribution beginning in 2015 in addition to plans to the UK and EU.

If Nissan’s Carlos Ghosn is “bullish” for electric cars, Hyundai seems to be among the most ardent in advancing plans for fuel cell vehicles with its first production model.

The iX35 can travel 100 mph and offers range of about 370 miles based on a liquid-hydrogen fill up that takes no longer than a gas fill, and makes even Tesla’s Supercharger’s 20-30 minute wait times appear glacial by comparison.

Aside from that, significant impediments remain for fuel cell technological advancement, but the European delivery today of 15 cars to the municipal fleet of the city of Copenhagen was on the occasion of the launch of Denmark’s first hydrogen refueling station.

As for the U.S. front, other hydrogen cars have beaten Hyundai to being available on a very limited basis, and Hyundai’s signing on to H2USA was along with Mercedes-Benz, Nissan and Toyota. The H2USA partnership is a collaboration with automakers, government agencies, gas suppliers, and the hydrogen and fuel cell industries.

The partnership hopes to leverage resources to identify ways to encourage fuel cell electric vehicle early adopters. It will conduct coordinated technical and market analysis, and evaluate alternative fueling infrastructure wit the end goal leading to cost reductions and economies of scale.

“Hyundai’s Tucson Fuel Cell program is an integral part of our plan to develop low-carbon, fuel-efficient vehicles that minimize fuel consumption and reduce carbon dioxide emissions,” said Gil Castillo, senior group manager, alternative vehicle strategy, Hyundai Motor America. “Our partnership with the Energy Department and H2USA is another way Hyundai is striving to meet the critical social needs for both mobility and environmental preservation.”